FIRST PERSON/OPINION:
By Harry Klinzmann
Today marks 20 years since David Emde passed away way too soon. David was my very dear, closest friend while we were racing in the ’70s and ’80s. We always traveled together because David didn’t like his dad Floyd’s smelly cigars while traveling together with his dad and his mom Florence. So, I had David living 24/7 at my parents’ house in Garden Grove, California. I had David helping at my family’s restaurant Mr. Al’s as much as possible as a line chef. My dad, Mr. Al himself, really enjoyed cooking with David because he listened to the instructions and I didn’t.
Mom and Dad loved David staying with us very much, and I believe Floyd and Flo liked David staying with us as well.
Boy, David and I did party a lot as well. Always chasing the ladies around. Then I thought, “Let’s send David to collect money on our arcade machines?” He loved doing that but found out real fast how heavy $5,000 weighs in quarters for the bank deposit. I was laughing so hard watching David lift a bag of quarters and sitting there at the bank waiting for the teller to count them. It took David days to do the five routes we had and after a few months David told me, “I’m sorry, but I’d rather cook.”
LMAO. Anyhow, we were brothers over the years. I did offer to paint David’s bikes, but I told David, “You gotta help sanding.” So, he helped with everything, but then he did it by himself.
I was so glad to have him staying with me over the years, and we learned off of each other. Such a kind person. There was nothing we couldn’t do as friends.
Oh, all the stories I could tell. It would be days of writing. Some day soon I will write a book, with someone’s help probably.
I miss my brother David as many of us do. It broke my heart in racing when first Mark Jones and Hugh Humble passed away. Then John Bettencourt, Jimmy Adamo, and the list goes on.
Life is so short. I am going on 65 next month, and I know my time is probably coming soon, but I am glad to still be here to share found memories of my life and wouldn’t change it in anyway. But not having David around has been a very hard blow.
RIP, my brother. I’ll be seeing you in Heaven, and then we all can race on.
HK31
